Collapsible boat



Nov. 9, 1943. J. F. CQOFER COLLAPSIBLE BOAT 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 31

Patented Nov. 9, 1943 UNITED STATES PATIENT OFFICE COLLAPSIBLE BOAT James F. Cooper, Akron, Ohio, asslgnor to Wingfoot Corporation, Akron, Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Application August 31, 1940, Serial No. 355,067

7 Claims.

This invention relates to collapsible and portable boats, and it refers particularly to inflatable fabric boats and to novel means for adding greater utility and safety in providing the boat with a pneumatic pad which is fitted to the botmotor mounting over a boat that could be propelled by oars only.

Although boats of this nature equipped with outboard motors are generally satisfactory up to a certain speed, it has been found that by the application of this invention greater speed, comfort and safety may be obtained.

In its broad aspect, one of the features of the present invention is the application of a pneumatic bottom to an inflatable fabric boat which will substantially aid in the maneuverability of the boat. The pneumatic bottom may be an integral part of the boat or it may be separately formed and capable of being quickly and easily installed or removed from the boat and when removed may be used as a raft or mattress. It also adds substantially to the buoyancy of the boat but an important function of the floor is that it adds to the rigidity of the boat both sidewise and lengthwise, and the lengthwise rigidity enables the boat to be driven at a greater speed with less tendency of flexing or buckling which would permit the bow of the boat to rise too far out of the water. In fact the pneumatic floor permits the boat to retain a more even keel.

Another feature of the pneumatic floor is that it serves as a protection when the boat is beached or traveling through shallow water where the bottom could come in contact with sharp pointed objects such as rocks, logs, etc. When an-obstructionof this nature contacts the bottom of the boat directly beneath an object of considerable weight which may lie on the floor of the boat, the pneumatic floor will form a cushion between such contacting surface and prevent damage to the bottom by cushioning, whereas serious damage may otherwise result.

Another feature of the invention is the provision of a pneumatic cylindrical tube extending around the outer sides and across the bow of the boat for the purpose of preventing spray formed by waves, or the disturbance of the boat passing through the waterfrom entering the boat, thus keeping the interior dry. This spray tube also serves the purpose of a bumper or buffer to protect the main body of the boat should it come in contact with an object that would be injurious to the main fabric body.

Another feature of the invention is the provision of a quick release device which may be used in case boats of this type are required to be towed. The boat is so constructed that it may be-defiated and rolled up in a very compact bundle and a considerable number of them can be stored aboard a larger boat or ship in a comparatively small space. When a ship is on an exploring or searchingexpedition, or the like, and it is desired to land a considerable number of men simultaneously the collapsible boats may be inflated and launched into the water and towed through the aid of a tow line as close to the shore as the large ship can safely navigate. The small collapsible boats can then be released by a quick release device, their motors started, and proceed to land, even though the water may be very shallow. The small boats, being very buoyant, are able to navigate water that is from four to six inches deep, depending on the load.

The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be readily appreciated from the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein the invention has been shown by way of example and wherein Figure 1 is a top plan view of the improved boat with the improvements shown therein;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof;

Fig. 3 is a side view of one of the tow-line attachments;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of same;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the'line 55 V of Fig. 1 somewhat enlarged;

v the line 7-1 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 6; and

Fig. 9 illustrates one method of constructing the pneumatic floor.

By referring first to Figs. 1 and 2, it will be seen that the boat I ll there shown is equipped at its stem with a motor mounting II to which is secured an outboard motor II of any ordinary or preferred form. The motor mounting is fully described'in' Patent Number 2,150,420 previously issued to me and will not be described herein. The boat |8 comprises a tubular bouyant frame made up of a number of tube sections I4, l4 |4, |4 |4, l5, I5, l5, l5, l5 and I5. These tube sections are formed of air-tight and waterproof, flexible material, such as rubberized fabric, and may be joined together with lapped edges which may be cemented, vulcanized, stitched or otherwise. It is-to be noted that the bow sections l4 and I5 mutually converge to a point in plan, and that they are inclined upwardly, whereby to provide minimum resistance to propulsion. The stem tube section It is of course transversely disposed and is adapted for the attachment of the motor mounting N. that the tube sections which make up the boat frame are of substantially circular cross section .and sufficiently large to provide adequate buoyancy when inflated. Secured to the lower sides of all of said tube sections and completely filling the space therebetween is a water-proof fabric bottom H, the detail of which is best shown in Fig. 5. If desired, the edges of this bottom |1 may be lapped by securing patches I8, whereby to strengthen the connection between the parts. Canvas strips I8, 28 and 2| extend crosswise in the boat to provide seats for some of the occupants; the ends of these canvas strips are cemented to the adjacent portions of the tubular frame sections.

It is to be noted that the seat strip 2| is disposed at substantially the widest part of the boat and the strip 20 somewhat to the rearward and, because of the general flexibility of the entire structure, it is desirable to provide means for resisting inward movement of the tube sections l4 and |5 when weight is applied to the seat. One way of accomplishing this is by pneumatic struts 22 and 23, as best shown in Fig. 1. These pneumatic struts consist of a tube of air-tight and water-proof fabric, having their ends flared and secured to the adjacent portions of the frame tube sections I 4, |4, I5 and |5. Preferably, these pneumatic tube struts may be separately inflated with air through the valves 24 and 25 of any preferred type. Furthermore, these pneumatic struts are disposed directly below the seat strips 28 and 2| and are spaced above the boat bottom |1, whereby the seat is made more comfortable and the bottom of the boat is entirely clear from stem to stem. Since the pneumatic struts 22 and 23 resist transverse collapse of the boat. it makes possible an increase in boat width and thus increases the boats carrying capacity.

The boat is equipped with handles 21 by which it may be carried, or cars may be inserted in the openings therein for rowing, if found necessary. A rope 28 is attached to the upper side of the boat, to which persons may cling in case of rescue work or accident, and may also be used as an aid in launching or removing the boat from the water.

Referring now to the pneumatic fioor 30, it will be noted that the floor takes a shape to conform with the shape of the boat when viewed in plan and is composed of a plurality of air compartments 3|, 32, 33 and 34, each of which is subdivided into a plurality of tubular air chambers 35 for the purpose of retaining a flat floor-like shape when inflated. Referring to Fig. 7, the pneumatic floor is composed of relatively long strips of fabric 38, the longitudinal central portions of which are coated with cement. Then It is also to be understood the strips are cemented together in pairs as indicated by the numeral 31, leaving the edge portions 38 free. The edge portions are then cemented to sheets of canvas 38 and 40. After a series of such strips are thus assembled, a binding strip 4| is cemented all the way around the edges of the assembly for added reinforcement. In order to provide separate air compartments 3|, 32, 33 and 34, a solid partition is formed by the meeting surfaces of two of the strips 35 which extend from end to end of the pneumatic floor at these particular points- A reinforcing strip 43 is then applied over the endsof the partition (see Fig. 8). The ends of the tubular members which are separated by the partition are provided with drels, then the mandrelswith thefabric thereon are placed side by side and pressed firmly together. The top and bottom covers 39 and 48 are cemented to the portions of the strips 38 that overlap the top and bottom of the mandrels 52. The mandrels are then removed and the edges of the pneumatic floor are then finished as stated before.

The spray tube guard 53 is of tubular form having a single continuous air chamber, and is cemented to the outside wall of the tubular frame of the boat I0 and slightly above the transverse center line thereof, through the aid of reinforcing strips of fabric 54. The spray tube 53 extends from the rearward end of the boat I8 along the sides and across the bow and is inflated by the valve 55. By the addition of this spray guard the boat has been made much more comfortable for its occupants by preventing spray from entering the boat.

The towing mechanism is composed of two boat attachment members 56 in the form of pressed steel plates having a raised hollow boss 51. The

,boss 51 is provided with an oblong opening 58 in the upper edge of which is formed a notch 59. These pressed steel plates are attached to the body of the boat at the foreward end and somewhat below the transverse center line thereof by fabric patches of cdnventional form which are cemented to the fabric boat body. Hooks formed so that they may be readily attached and released from the plates 55 are in the form of a cylindrical metal bar 50, one end of which is bent at right angles to the main body and provided with a flange 5|, the upper side of which has a lug 82 extended therefrom. It will be noted that the flange 5| is oblong in form and when the hook is in an upward vertical position and the lug 52 is in alinement with notch 58 of the hollow boss flatable boat maybe towed. The cable 81 has one of its ends permanently attached to the bow of the boat and the other end attached to a rod 68, and when the occupants of the boat desire 1 to be released, the cable 61 is pulled which forces the rod rearwardly against the compression of a spring 69, this in turn causing the sliding block to recede and disengage the end of a hook H from an opening in the end of said sliding block. When this occurs the hook II will fall downward and permit the cable 66 to slide off the hook releasing the boat, after which the towing mechanism may be withdrawn into the boat whereupon it can proceed on its own power.

At certain times it may be desirable to land a comparatively large party simultaneously. In such case a large boat could tow a number of inflatable boats as near to shore as safety will permit, whereupon the boats can be released and proceed to shore through water which a larger boat would be unable to navigate.

From the foregoing it will be evident that an improved inflatable boat has been provided and the various improvements described will substantially add to the comfort and utility of such boats generally. A combination of these units is particularly advantageous to sportsmen, searching or rescue parties. Obviously the several features of the invention may be modified in various ways and the right is herein reserved to make such changes as fall within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention;

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

l. A collapsible inflatable boat of the class described comprising a boat body having flexible fabric sides and bottom, the sides being tubular and inflatable to provide buoyancy, a removable and separately inflatable pneumatic floor fitting snugly within the bottom of the boat and assisting in maintaining the shape of the boat, a tubular pneumatic spray guard secured to the outer sidesof the boat body, a safety line attached to the body of said boat above the spray guard, a-

towlng mechanism comprising a quick-release mechanismand means for attachment of said towing mechanism to the opposite sides of the boat body at points below the spray guard, and

ing to maintain the shape of the boat in service,

and a towing mechanism associated with the forward portion of the boat, said towing mechanism having plural connections with the boat body so that towing forces are distributed to the fabric with minimum distortion of the boat body.

.3. A boat of the class described comprising an inflatable tubular fabric frame constituting complete side and end portions of the boat, a. flexible waterproof fabric bottom secured to said frame and stretched between said side and end portions at the lower surfaces thereof, and a separately inflatable removable cellular fabric bottom superimposed on said first mentioned bottom with its edges contacting the tubular fabric frame of the boat to assist in maintaining the shape of the boat in use and to add buoyancy thereto.

4. A boat of the class described comprising a boat body having side and end portions each formed of a single tube of flexible fabric and capable of inflation to provide desired degree of buoyancy, and a flexible pneumatic floor in said boat body, said floor being separately inflatable and adapted to exert outward lateral pressure against the side and end portions of the boat body whereby to resist deformation of the boat in service, and towing connections at opposite points of the outer surfaces of the tubular side portions of the boat body, said towing connections being disposed substantially in the plane of the pneumatic floor.

5. In a pneumatic collapsible boat of the class described, a flexible fabricboat body having inflatable tubular side and end members, and a spray guard extending continuously from the bow to adjacent the stern of the boat and attached to the exterior of the tubular side and end members of said boat, said spray guard serving to prevent flow ofwater up over the tubular side and end members of the boat and giving yieldable reinforcement to the boat body.

6. In a pneumatic collapsible boat of'the class described, the combination of a tubular flexible fabric boat body with means for inflation toprovide buoyancy and a separately inflatable flexible 4 pneumatic floor fitting snugly within the bottom frame in substantially tangential relation thereto,

, I and a pneumatic floor disposed above said fabric bottom and completely filling the lower portion of the space between the'side and end portions of the tubular frame whereby to assist in yield ably maintaining the shape of the boat, said pneumatic floor being free of communication with the tubular frame and comprising spaced apart plural layers of fabric with longitudinally disposed flexible fabric partitions mounted between said layers.

JAMES F; COOPER. 

